Light gold in color with a very hazy complexity due to being unfiltered. A fingernail thin eggshell white head is present. Brussels lacing. Aroma of bready malts with a saltine cracker to a gentle sourdough note. The sourdough note is more forward than the saltine cracker note in the taste. This a pale malt forward beer. The mouth is crisp and moderately carbonated. A summer quencher with plenty of flavor.

Appearance: Pours a very hazy straw golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. About one finger of white head that fades into a thin patch.

Smell: A yeasty, fruity, and spicy Belgian aroma with hints of fruit and spices. Upfront Belgian yeast with hints of funk, clove, white pepper, and coriander. Pale malt with hints of straw and cracker. Fruit esters of banana, lemon zest, orange, and a little apple. Subtle hop presence with floral hints as well as a little grass. Also some light candied sugar hints. A very good aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a yeasty, spicy, and zesty Belgian ale taste with good notes of zesty fruit and spices. Belgian yeast with upfront notes of clove, funk, white pepper, and coriander. Pale malt with notes of straw and soft cracker. Fruit notes of banana, orange, lemon zest, and apple. Light notes of Belgian candied sugar. Some floral and grassy hop notes in the background. A very good Belgian taste.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Crisp, spicy, and very smooth with a drying finish.

Overall: Another great Belgian Abbey Ale from St. Bernardus. Great mix of spice and fruit esters with a clean and nicely drying body.

Poured a cloudy golden body with three fingers of thick, fluffy white head. It looks fantastic, very true to style and quite appealing. Scents of bubblegum, sweetly spicy Belgian yeast with notes of clove, white pepper and light funk, notes of floral aromas, jasmine and citrus blossom, medium fruity esters and light soft malt. Overall impression of aroma is of a wonderful Belgian that combines the nice phenols and esters of the yeast with some floral hoppy aromas and just enough malt to balance. Very well done and quite appealing. Flavor begins with notes of spicy Belgian yeast with notes of white pepper and spicy hops with a bit of floral European hops in the mix and a light orange peel flavor. Middle opens up further floral hop flavors with a medium bitterness that is quite pleasant. Finish is dry with notes of floral hops that I assume are Noble hops, grainy malt, soft biscuit-like malt and orange peel with a light sourness alongside white pepper. Aftertaste is white pepper, biscuit-like malt and floral hops. Overall impression of flavor is of a lovely Belgian single, a light ale brewed to compete with German Pilsners. It has much of the same malt and hop character, but the Belgian ale yeast adds a pleasant spiciness and complexity lacking from the lager. Very well done. Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with medium carbonation and a smooth, slightly drying and chalky flavor. Quite nice. Overall this is a fantastic ale. It combines the lovely aroma and flavors of a Belgian Pale with a good level of hopping that lends it a character in-pine with a hoppy German Pilsner. Hoppy, complex and intriguing, a very good ale.

Appearance: Pours a pretty, almost opaque, golden yellow/straw color, with two and a half fingers of white-colored head that slowly dissolved away into a thick lacing of foam that completely covered the top of the beer.

Aroma: Very aromatic, with tons of bready, toasted malt, imparting notes of Belgian waffles. There are also some aromas of musty Belgian yeast, which imparts some barnyard-like aromas, such as straw, saddle leather and wet blanket. There are also some floral aromas of honey-suckle, clover and freshly cut grass, as well as notes of candied sugar, a touch of clove and some lemon-like citrus. Very complex and inviting.

Taste: Delicious! Tons of bready, toasted mat up front, followed by some spice of clove, black pepper, coriander, cardamom, and maybe a hint of saffron. There is also lots of floral notes of honey-suckle and clover as well as lots of funky Belgian yeast and honey-like sweetness. Delicious!

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and extremely crisp and effervescent as there is a ton of carbonation to tickle the taste buds. With an ABV of 4.8%, there is no alcohol on the palate. A true Belgian session ale!

Overall: This is the first St. Barnardus beer I’ve had, and it’s fantastic! Malty, funky, floral, complex and excellent! A great Belgian beer, and I’m looking forward to trying this brewery’s other offerings. Highly recommended!